Twins scrambling to fix their bobblehead bobble

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Minnesota Twins' World Series championship, the team announced late Thursday morning that it is selling a limited number of bobblehead doll sets including "the entire roster" from the Series and Manager Tom Kelly.

The announcement and a team photo of the set included Kelly and all 25 players -- except for one.

Relief pitcher Terry Leach.

At first, team spokesman Chris Iles said the collection was limited to 25 dolls, so the team bumped Leach to make room for Kelly.

Even though he pitched in two World Series games, Leach was the odd doll out because he did not play in the American League Championship Series (ALCS), Iles said.

The initial explanation left Leach baffled.

"I did not know that," said Leach, 57, who now lives in Florida. "I don't understand this at all. Why would there be a limit?"

A few hours after the announcement, the Twins executive in charge of the promotion said Leach was omitted only because the team mistakenly sent to the factory in China a roster that included just those who played in the ALCS.

"We are adding Terry Leach," said Patrick Klinger, the team's vice president for marketing. "He deserves to be added, and he will be in the bobblehead set."

He said "the process was already underway" to fix the omission before the promotion was announced with only 24 players listed.

Klinger wasted no time getting word to Leach that he's on the bobblehead roster.

"The VP of marketing already called" and explained everything, Leach said late Thursday afternoon. "I told him good because that hurt my feelings. That would be embarrassing to not be included."

Despite the bobblehead bobble, Leach said he still plans to head north for a 1991 Twins reunion weekend in August. He came back to Minnesota for the 10-year reunion, saying, "It was a very good reunion."

In 1991, his second of two seasons with the Twins, Leach pitched in 50 games. The right-handed middle reliever had a 1-2 record and a 3.61 earned run average.

Leach appeared in two World Series games. He pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up two hits, one earned run and striking out two. He had no decisions and no saves.

The 1,000 commemorative sets go on sale for $391 starting Monday at 9 a.m. at www.twinsbaseball.com/1991. All proceeds, after expenses, will go to the Minnesota Twins Community Fund.